Best to you on your recovery! Look forward to having you running with us soon.
- PRMH Running Club
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Pace Car by Christina Hilton
It wasn’t my goal to ride in the pace car in the First Annual PRMH Women’s Classic 5k. My goal was 23:23. When my achilles decided not to cooperate with me and strive for the same goal, I knew I needed to hang up the sneakers and stick to the role of volunteer. I was afforded the opportunity to ride as passenger in the pace car. A perfect example of a door closing, and a window opening .It was an interesting prospect, since I had never seen a race from that vantage point. It was a rainy day, but that certainly didn’t put a damper on the excitement of the event.
In this new role, my main concern was to be sure we didn’t miss a turn for the sake of the runners. As we took a practice drive through the course we saw volunteers getting organized along the race route to guide runners and to man water stations for the over six hundred participants.
When the gun went off to signify the start of the race, we were on our way. I can honestly say I lost track of the scenic streets of the East Side of Providence as I watched the race leader, Amy Rudolph’s stride, and marveled at the ease with which she maneuvered, sometimes frighteningly close to the pace car. I’m sure I had a look of awe, as a person who has never participated in Olympic event, or held any race records.
When we arrived at the Brown Stadium Track for the last leg of the race, I thought the excitement was over, the winner was striding to the finish line and it may be a good time to go back and help the remaining volunteers. The race was hardly complete. I was fortunate enough to see over six hundred women of all ages, one after another, determined, tired, happy, proud. It was apparent that they all had different experiences, but here they ran as one group with a common goal, the Finish Line.
It is easy to believe that a race is about who came in first, and kudos are rightfully awarded to those who do. But I believe that everyone won that day, each in her own right. Whether she set a personal record or finished her first 5K. But I guess that’s what life is all about. It’s about running your own race.
The next day these women were back to their regular routines, of carpooling and band practice, groceries, work, but perhaps with the confidence that comes from training for and finishing a new event.
Congratulations to everyone who ran the First Annual PRMH Women’s Classic 5K, and good luck to those of you training for the Second. We’re sure it will be a wonderful event.
In this new role, my main concern was to be sure we didn’t miss a turn for the sake of the runners. As we took a practice drive through the course we saw volunteers getting organized along the race route to guide runners and to man water stations for the over six hundred participants.
When the gun went off to signify the start of the race, we were on our way. I can honestly say I lost track of the scenic streets of the East Side of Providence as I watched the race leader, Amy Rudolph’s stride, and marveled at the ease with which she maneuvered, sometimes frighteningly close to the pace car. I’m sure I had a look of awe, as a person who has never participated in Olympic event, or held any race records.
When we arrived at the Brown Stadium Track for the last leg of the race, I thought the excitement was over, the winner was striding to the finish line and it may be a good time to go back and help the remaining volunteers. The race was hardly complete. I was fortunate enough to see over six hundred women of all ages, one after another, determined, tired, happy, proud. It was apparent that they all had different experiences, but here they ran as one group with a common goal, the Finish Line.
It is easy to believe that a race is about who came in first, and kudos are rightfully awarded to those who do. But I believe that everyone won that day, each in her own right. Whether she set a personal record or finished her first 5K. But I guess that’s what life is all about. It’s about running your own race.
The next day these women were back to their regular routines, of carpooling and band practice, groceries, work, but perhaps with the confidence that comes from training for and finishing a new event.
Congratulations to everyone who ran the First Annual PRMH Women’s Classic 5K, and good luck to those of you training for the Second. We’re sure it will be a wonderful event.
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